U.S. Department of Energy Preparations to Transport a Rail-Sized Research Cask of Commercial Spent Nuclear Fuel

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is preparing to transport a rail-sized cask of commercial spent nuclear fuel (SNF) as part of an ongoing research project. Today, nuclear fuel is being kept in nuclear power reactors longer to produce more electricity. This fuel is known as “high burnup.” DOE, in collaboration with the nuclear industry through the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), is studying how high burnup SNF behaves in long-term storage to verify that it can be stored safely for many years before being transported for eventual disposal. This research project is being conducted on one cask of SNF known as the “High Burnup Research Cask (HBURC).” In addition to gas sampling of the cask upon loading, the cask was fitted with a special lid to allow temperature measurements while the cask has been in storage. Additional gas samples will be taken pre- and postshipment. For the next stage of the research project, DOE will open the HBURC and examine the SNF rods inside. This can only be done safely in a specialized science facility like those available at DOE’s national laboratories. In 2027, DOE plans to ship the HBURC from its current location at the North Anna Power Station near Mineral, VA to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in southeastern ID. This summary presents information on DOE’s current planning activities to prepare to ship the HBURC.